After three years of work, the end is in sight for the Friends of Gilgal Garden.
Sale of the unique folk sculpture garden hidden away in the middle of Salt Lake City is likely to occur this month. That's what Friends of Gilgal Garden, a group of enthusiasts for the religiously themed sculptures on the site,
has been working for all these months.
"We're very happy that it's come to this," said Mary Lee Peters, the group's capital campaign director. "I feel very good."
The garden, located in the interior of the block bounded by 400 South, 500 South, 700 East and 800 East, is owned by the Henry Fetzer family. That family has wanted to unload the garden for some time and has considered proposals to partially or wholly develop it into condominiums or some other project.
"We're just trying to get it into a mode where it can be preserved and taken care of," said Norine Smith, one of Henry Fetzer's 11 children. "A lot of the original family members are older now and want to simplify things."
The Friends of Gilgal Garden was formed to make sure the garden remains, as well as make it better maintained and more accessible to the public. They have spent a lot of time negotiating with the family, convincing donors to pony up the $600,000 purchase price, involving the nonprofit Trust for Public Land to take care of the legalities and convincing Salt Lake City to maintain the garden once it's purchased.
That last request hasn't been easy. While Mayor Rocky Anderson has been enthusiastic about taking over the garden, the City Council has been more reluctant.
However, it is coming around. Councilman Tom Rogan, for one, an initial opponent, said he's warming up to the idea.
"It's looking better to me," he said. "I feel much more comfortable with the whole deal."
It would cost the city an estimated $8,000 per year to maintain the garden.
If all goes as anticipated, using money Friends of Gilgal Garden has raised, the Trust for Public Land will agree to purchase the garden April 28, when its board of directors meets, with closing scheduled for June 10. After the transfer takes place, and assuming the city finally agrees, the trust will donate the garden to the city, which will take over maintenance.
Salt Lake County has donated $400,000, with the LDS Church and the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation kicking in $100,000 each. Friends of Gilgal Garden has spent about $25,000 in expenses, meaning it has to come up with that much to close the deal.
The group plans a fund raiser, a tour of Gilgal and other city gardens, for June 3. Call 583-5663 for more information.
The purchase deal will include three houses on the garden's south side, two of which will be sold to cover expenses of bringing the garden up to snuff. Its years are showing; some of the engravings are worn, and the occasional vandal doesn't make things easier.
The third house, which is considerably rundown, likely will be razed or moved to make room for a formal entrance to the garden.
The sculpture garden was created between 1945 and 1963 by Thomas Child, a stonemason and prominent member of the LDS Church. Using his own money, he brought in large boulders of different types of stone and sculpted them into such things as a sphinx with the head of Joseph Smith and paving stones with scriptures engraved in them.
"I think many people don't appreciate what an accomplishment this is," said artist and art historian David Sucec, a member of Friends of Gilgal Garden.
To make a donation, contact any Zions Bank branch or call 519-0871.
You can reach Alan Edwards by e-mail at alan@desnews.com.